Friday, August 29, 2014

Recent books

"Under the Skin" by Michel Faber. This is the (excellent) book which was recently art-house filmed with Scarlett Johansson. People say the book is better; I plan to watch the film sometime soon on my tablet, renting - for the first time - from the Google movie store. Moral: think twice before accepting lifts from strange girls with infeasibly large boobs and difficult-to-place accents.

Isserley in action

"Theological Incorrectness: Why Religious People Believe What They Shouldn't" by Jason Stone. As recommended by Razib Khan. In the spirit of Scott Atran's "In Gods We Trust" an evo-psych analysis chiefly interesting for its passing analyses of, for example, Buddhism. (Despite what western intellectuals believe, practising Buddhists in the heartlands of that religion deify the Buddha; ditto with Taoism - which to western despair is full of gods and magic in the east).

"The Rosie Project" by Graeme Simsion. Purporting to tell the tale of the "wife project" undertaken by a partner-free genetics professor, this account of Aspie life is almost convincing. Sadly, success in love is seldom achieved in reality to those as far along the spectrum as our hero. But it's a great story nonetheless.

My next reading treat is that old favourite, "Ringworld" (Larry Niven).